Lattice Boltzmann simulation of MHD mixed convection in a two‐sided lid‐driven square cavity

In this paper the effects of a magnetic field on mixed convection flow in a two‐sided lid‐driven cavity have been analyzed by the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The Hartmann number varied from Ha = 0 to 100. The study has been conducted for different Richardson numbers (Ri) from 0.01 to 100 while the direction of the magnetic field was investigated in the x‐direction. Consequences demonstrate that the heat transfer augments with an increment of the Richardson number for different Hartmann numbers for two cases. The heat transfer declines with the growth of the magnetic field for various Richardson numbers for two cases. The difference between the values of heat transfer for the two cases at variant parameters is negligible but the trend of fluid flow for the two cases is multifarious. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20402     

Orally active, hydrolytically stable, semisynthetic, antimalarial trioxanes in the artemisinin family

In only three chemical operations, natural trioxane lactone artemisinin (1) was converted into a series of C-10 carbon-substituted 10-deoxoartemisinin compounds 4-9. The three steps involved lactone reduction, replacement of the anomeric lactol OH by F using diethylaminosulfur trifluoride, and finally boron trifluoride-promoted substitution of F by aryl, heteroaryl, and acetylide nucleophiles. All of these C-10 nonacetal, chemically robust, enantiomerically pure compounds 4-9 have high antimalarial potencies in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites, and furans 5a and 5b and pyrrole 7a are antimalarially potent also in vivo even when administered to rodents orally.     

A single point mutation in the yeast TRP4 gene affects efficiency of mRNA 3' end processing and alters selection of the poly(A) site

The yeast TRP4 mRNA 3' end formation element is a bidirectional element which functions in both orien-tations in an artificial in vivo test system. In this study, the role of 3' end formation was analysed in the context of the entire TRP4 gene. The 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of TRP4 was altered and changes were analysed for their influence on TRP4 gene expression. The 3'UTR in reverse orientation was fully functional and did not affect TRP4 gene expression. Exchanging the TRP4 3'UTR by the bidirectional ARO4 or the unidirectional GCN4 3' end formation element allowed efficient gene expression. Deletion of the entire TRP4 3'UTR resulted in 70% reduction of TRP4 mRNA and 50% reduced specific Trp4 enzyme activity in comparison to wild-type. A single point mutation within the TRP4 3'UTR caused the same effect on gene expression. This point mutation did not only affect the efficiency of 3' end formation, but also produced new poly(A) sites which were situated upstream of the wild-type poly(A) sites. Therefore this sequence motif in the TRP4 3'UTR acts simultaneously as both an efficiency and positioning element.     

Antiepileptic drug therapy and sexual function in men with epilepsy

PURPOSE: To study the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on sex hormone levels and sexual activity in a group of men attending a hospital-based epilepsy clinic. METHODS: One hundred eighteen men being treated with AED therapy, 32 with epilepsy but not receiving AEDs, and 34 controls were recruited. All subjects were aged 18-65 years. Blood (20 ml) was removed for hormone assays, after which each subject completed a validated questionnaire [Sexuality Experience Scores (Frenken and Vennix, 1981)] aimed at exploring the individuals' sexual activity and attitudes to sexual morality. RESULTS: Men taking carbamazepine (CBZ) only had significantly higher mean sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels than the control group. The CBZ group also had a significantly lower mean DHEAS concentration than the control, untreated, and sodium valproate (VPA) monotherapy groups. The phenytoin monotherapy group (PHT) had a significantly higher mean SHBG than both the control and untreated groups, and had a significantly higher mean total testosterone (TT) value than the control untreated, CBZ, and VPA groups, and a significantly lower mean DHEAS than the controls, untreated, and VPA groups. Men receiving more than one AED had significantly higher mean SHBG concentrations compared with control, untreated, and VPA groups. In addition, the polytherapy group's mean TT was significantly higher than the control and VPA groups, although its mean DHEAS concentration was lower than the control, untreated, and VPA groups. There were no significant differences between the study groups in mean FT, Budrostenedione (AND), or estradiol levels. But the CBZ, PHT, and polytherapy groups had significantly lower mean free and rogen index (FAI) than the controls. The CBZ group had a lower mean FAI than the VPA group. The polytherapy group had a lower FAI than the untreated group. Sexuality Experience Scores (SES) showed that those men receiving AEDs embraced a stricter sexual morality than the controls and untreated, and expressed greater satisfaction with their marriages than the control and untreated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Seizure type did not affect SES scores. Multiple regression showed men who had received further education were less accepting of strict sexual morality.     

Choroidal neovascular membrane in Best's vitelliform macular dystrophy

The right eye of a 9-year-old white boy with Best's vitelliform macular dystrophy had an intact egg-yolk lesion and a retinal pigment epithelial defect superiorly, suggesting an early pseudohypopyon stage. The disruptive phase of the left eye showed subretinal hemorrhages, a "signet ring," and a subretinal neovascular membrane.     

Further similarities between astrocytes and perisinusoidal stellate cells of liver (Ito cells): colocalization of desmin and glial fibrillary acidic protein in astroglial primary cultures

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive care unit (ICU), the case-mix has to be considered. This was a cohort study. By using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scores (APACHE II score), we evaluated the case-mix and mortality rate of 282 patients who were treated in our postoperative ICU. The overall mortality rate was 10.6 per cent. Higher Acute physiology scores and emergency surgery in the presence of chronic health status were related to higher mortality, but age was not. However, the original APACHE II model could not precisely predict the mortality of Thai patients. We used stepwise logistic regression to determine the predictors of death and found the prediction model to be -7.24 + 0.37 (APACHE II score) + 1.46 (postemergency surgery). The actual mortality for patients with APACHE II score > 15 in our ICU was higher than that predicted by the original APACHE II model. The causes of this difference might be difference in methodology, characteristics of ICU and the quality of care.     

Sequence analysis of equine adenovirus 2 hexon and 23K proteinase genes indicates a phylogenetic origin distinct from equine adenovirus 1

We report the first nucleotide sequence data on equine adenovirus 2 (EAdV2) which corroborate on the molecular level that EAdV2 is distinct from equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV1). Based on sequence homology with Eadv1 the hexon gene of Eadv2 was identified. HindIII restriction fragments containing the hexon and eight other viral genes were cloned into the plasmid pUC19 and the nucleotide sequence of the hexon and the 23K proteinase genes completely determined. Amino acid (aa) comparison of sequence fragments with published adenovirus (AdV) proteins identified the genes for the E1B/19K, IVa2, DNA polymerase, terminal protein, pVI, DNA binding and 100K proteins, usually with highest similarities to human AdV. The nine EAdV2 genes appeared to be in the same relative order as homologous genes of other AdV. The EAdV2 hexon was encoded between the minor capsid precursor protein pVI upstream and the 23K proteinase gene downstream and comprised 2712 nucleotides which translated into 903 aa residues. It was more closely related to the human AdV48 hexon with 71.6% identical and 82.7% functionally similar aa than to the EAdV1 hexon gene with 69.3% aa identity and 80.7% functional similarity. The deduced aa sequence of the EAdV2 23K proteinase gene was 201 residues; it shared 59.7% identical and 75% similar aa residues with the bovine AdV3 23K proteinase as the closest relative. Phylogenetic analysis of the hexon and 23K proteinase genes indicated that EAdV2 does not share an immediate common ancestor with EAdV1 and other AdV.     

Use of cyclodextrins for manipulating cellular cholesterol content

Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that exposure of tissue culture cells to cyclodextrins results in rapid cholesterol depletion. In the present study, we have developed experimental systems for using solutions of cyclodextrins, either 2-hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin or methylated beta-cyclodextrin, complexed with varying amounts of free cholesterol to manipulate cell cholesterol content. Cholesterol delivered via the cyclodextrin has been found to be metabolically active, as measured by the acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT)-mediated esterification of [3H]cholesterol in Fu5AH rat hepatoma cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells. The methylated beta-cyclodextrin was found to be a more efficient donor in all cell types studied, with an average cholesterol uptake of at least 100 microg cholesterol/mg protein within 6 h. By modifying the cyclodextrin:cholesterol molar ratio, it is possible to manipulate the cellular cholesterol content of cells, producing conditions ranging from net cholesterol enrichment to depletion. The use of cyclodextrins provides a convenient, precise and reproducible method for modulating the cholesterol content of tissue culture cells.